On the right is GM's fourth generation fuel cell stack, used in the 2007 Equinox FCV. On the left is the dramatically shrunk, lighter fuel cell, which still outputs the same power. (Source: GM via Treehugger)

The old Equinox engine with its fuel cell system is seen on the left, with the petite new system on the right. (Source: GM via Treehugger)

Company plans to sell vehicles with the system by 2015

Is
the automotive market ready for fuel cell vehicles? Is it even
ready for electric vehicles?

In both cases GM
thinks the answer is "yes" and it is leading the charge to
deploy these technologies. The 2011
Chevy Volt, set to launch later this year, will be the first mass
market electric vehicle to be sold in the U.S. (past EVs saw limited
distribution). And GM announced
today that it was beginning testing of production-intent
fuel cells in preparation for a 2015 fuel cell (FC) vehicle
launch.

In 2008, we tested
GM's Equinox FC vehicles on the roads of Las Vegas.
Since then the fleet has logged the most miles of any fuel cell fleet
GM is aware of -- 1.3 million everyday miles in total.

GM has
applied those lessons to make a dramatically improved next
generation fuel cell systemdesign. The design is 220 pounds
lighter, is about half the size, and uses only about a third of the
precious platinum that the 2008 cells used (80 grams used in the old
stack, 30 g in the new stack).

Charles Freese, executive
director of GM's Global Fuel Cell Activities states, "Our
learning from Project Driveway has been tremendous and these vehicles
have been very important to our program. The 30 months we
committed to the demonstration are winding down, but we will keep
upgrades of these vehicles running and will continue learning from
them while we focus efforts on the production-intent program for
2015."

The launch of official testing of the new design
will coincide with the wind down of GM's 2007 project, dubbed
"Project Driveway". Elaborates Freese, "Some of
the 119 fuel cell electric vehicles in Project Driveway will receive
hardware and software upgrades and will become part of a technology
demonstration program with the U.S. Department of Energy. Others will
be driven by businesses and a few will be used to continue showing
that, with proper fueling infrastructure, hydrogen fuel cells are a
viable alternative to gasoline-powered vehicles. We will
continue to use the Project Driveway fleet strategically to advance
fuel cell technology, hydrogen infrastructure, and GM's vehicle
electrification goals."

Stephanie White, a fuel cell
advocate who was among the first Project Driveway participants and is
an avid blogger on hydrogen in the automotive sector, was the first
individual to receive a long-term loan of the next generation fuel
cell vehicle.

She describes her past experiences,
stating, "Driving the Chevy fuel cell around LA has been an
amazing experience. People are always stopping me to ask
questions about the vehicle and I tell them how powerful and
eco-friendly it is."

Durability remains a concern for the
cells. They currently are good for about 80,000 miles. GM
hopes to bump that to 120,000 miles by 2015. GM also hopes to
get the amount of platinum used in the stack under 10 g, while
maintaining equivalent power. By 2015 the company plans on
producing about 10,000 fuel cell vehicles a year.

GM still
faces significant challenges even if it can produce a moderately
affordable fuel cell design. Foremost is the lack of hydrogen
infrastructure. With no infrastructure in place throughout much
of the country, FC vehicles may only be able to operate in limited
areas like New
York and California.

"This week I got an iPhone. This weekend I got four chargers so I can keep it charged everywhere I go and a land line so I can actually make phone calls." -- Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg